Department for Transport

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to appoint a delivery body to (1) supervise, and (2) lead, Project Rapid; and what are the (a) targets, and (b) funding, associated with the project.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles has reviewed options for its delivery body and will make its formal appointment after the approval of its Outline Business Case by HMT. This is expected to be within the next 12 months. The roll out of rapid charging is an opportunity to remove range anxiety for electric vehicle drivers across the roads network. By 2023, we aim to have at least six high -powered, open access chargepoints at motorway service areas in England, with some larger sites having ten to twelve. By 2035, we expect the number to increase to around 6,000 high powered chargers across the network. Government expects the private sector to deliver this wherever possible. To support our aims and to ensure the private sector can continue to expand the charging network at pace in the 2020s, the Government will invest £950 million in future proofing grid capacity at motorway and major A road service areas to prepare the network for uptake of zero emission cars and vans ahead of need.

Railways: Fares

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to link future increases in regulated rail fares to the Consumer Price Index rather than to the Retail Price Index.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: We recognise many of the arguments made to justify changing the measure of inflation used and continue to keep our policy under review, with a long-term goal of replacing Retail Price Index (RPI), as it is phased out of use. Any change will need to overcome specific barriers to ensure it is delivered sustainably and will require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the backlog of road repairs nationally; and what assessment they have made of the impact such repairs will have on (1) communities, and (2) the economy.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the responsibility for maintaining the highway rests with the respective devolved administrations. In England, National Highways is responsible for the strategic road network, that is motorways and major A roads. On the local road network local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network in their area. Whilst the Government does not intervene in local highway maintenance decisions, we are providing over £2.7 billion funding for local highways maintenance for local authorities outside of London and City Region areas over the next three years. The Department for Transport encourages good practice in local highway maintenance for all local highway authorities and endorses the UK Roads Liaison Group’s Code of Practice on Well Managed Highway Infrastructure.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they first became aware of alleged problems with the employment terms and conditions at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; what steps they took to improve the level of service by that body; and when those steps were taken.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government is not aware of any issues with the employment terms and conditions at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which are in line with the rest of the Civil Service. The quickest and easiest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents within a few days. However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. The Government understands the impact that delays in processing paper applications can have on the daily lives of individuals and the DVLA is working hard to reduce waiting times. The DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has opened new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham to reduce backlogs and provide future resilience. These measures are having a positive impact and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times for paper applications. The DVLA also prioritised vocational licence applications to support the Government’s response to the driver shortage, and there have been no delays in straightforward applications for vocational licences, including renewals, since November 2021. The applications are being processed within normal turnaround times of five working days. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed but the large majority of applicants will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.

Biofuels: Industry

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possible environmental, strategic and economic benefits of retaining a strong domestic biodiesel industry; and what proportion of biodiesel used in the UK is produced in this country.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Biodiesel is supported in the UK under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) certificate trading scheme. The scheme is subject to regular review and has been successfully supporting a UK biodiesel market for nearly 14 years. In recognition of the carbon reduction and wider environmental benefits, the scheme provides twice the level of reward for biodiesel produced from wastes as compared to biodiesel made from crop feedstocks. Consequently, biodiesel supplied under the RTFO is largely made from waste feedstocks, many of which are sourced in the UK. Biodiesel made from wastes generally delivers higher carbon savings. The Department publishes statistics on renewable fuels supplied under the RTFO and the origin of feedstocks used to produce them. The latest verified data in the Renewable Fuel Statistics 2020 final report suggests that in 2020 1.62 billion litres of biodiesel was supplied for use in transport the UK, of which 142 million litres was produced from UK-origin feedstocks. In 2020 the most common source of biodiesel from UK feedstocks was used cooking oil, which contributed 50% of the total amount of biodiesel made from UK feedstocks. The UK currently has biodiesel production capacity of 660 million litres per year which equates to approximately 41% of biodiesel supply under the RTFO. The RTFO scheme does not gather data on whether biodiesel is produced in the UK. According to the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2021 published by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, in 2020 the UK produced 558 million litres of biodiesel. In the same statistics in 2020 overall the UK consumed a total of 1,584 million litres of biodiesel.

Electric Vehicles

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to incentivise the increased use of electric vehicles.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Government has committed £2.5 billion since 2020 to support the transition to zero emission vehicles, with funding to offset their higher upfront cost, and to accelerate the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure. Alongside grants for plug-in vehicles, there are also tax benefits in place such as zero road tax, and company car tax rates, which can save drivers over £2,000 a year. Once fuel costs and tax incentives are factored in, we expect the total cost of ownership to reach parity during the 2020s, compared to petrol and diesel cars. On 25 March, we published our electric vehicle infrastructure strategy. This strategy sets out our vision and commitments to make EV charging cheaper and more convenient than refuelling at a petrol station so that all drivers can transition with confidence.

Russia: Navtex

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures (1) they, and (2) the International Maritime Organization, are taking to prevent Russia using the NAVTEX system to spread false information.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: NAVTEX is a maritime communication system and is a conduit for safety messages enshrined in the Safety of Life at Sea international convention devoted to the perseveration of life at sea. The UK is deeply concerned with the Russian Federation’s use of NAVTEX for disinformation messaging with regard to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The misuse of NAVTEX to broadcast propaganda endangers merchant shipping operating in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is another example of the Russia Federation ignoring the responsibilities and behaviours a respectable nation state should demonstrate. On 18 March, the UK wrote to the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation to protest at this wholly inappropriate use of NAVTEX and urged IMO Member States to condemn Russia’s actions.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Consumer Goods: Origin Marking

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require internet retailers to declare countries of origin of items to purchasers in advance of their sale.

Lord Callanan: Aside from certain specified products such as food there is no requirement for goods to be labelled with their country of origin. Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs), traders are banned from using misleading statements about the geographical or commercial origin of products including in response to requests for information by consumers. As with other elements of goods, the Government encourages consumers who are interested in a particular property of goods, including their origin, to ask the seller. If they are not happy with the reply, then they can shop elsewhere. If they suspect that the reply is not truthful, then they can take the matter up with their local authority Trading Standards Officers who enforce the CPRs.

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to encourage employers to provide employment for refugees from Ukraine.

Lord Callanan: Ukrainian refugees will have the right to work as soon as they arrive in the UK. The Government will provide refugees with resources to help them find a job, for example ‘Find a Job’ and Jobcentre Plus work coaches for those awarded Universal Credit. The Department for Work and Pensions is working with employers and partners to support refugees with employment opportunities, including working alongside the Refugee Employment Network to support Ukrainian refugees to offer employment opportunities and training.

Petrol: Sales

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatestimate they have made of the profit margin per litre of petrol sold at petrol stations in (1) February 2022, (2) February 2021, and (3) February 2020.

Lord Callanan: The Government monitors the margin profits of petrol and diesel, but individual months do not necessarily reflect broader trends. Competitive markets ensure that consumers get a fair deal when they visit the pumps and that road fuel prices stay as low as possible.

Energy: Prices

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a new cap on energy prices.

Lord Callanan: There are no plans to introduce a new cap on energy prices. The Energy Price Cap is a temporary measure until competition in the market improves. The Government announced in July last year that it would seek new legislation to enable future extensions of the price cap beyond 2023, if the conditions for effective competition are not in place. Ofgem is required to set the energy price cap at a level that reflects the efficient cost of supplying households with gas and electricity.

China General Nuclear Power Corporation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 15 March (HL6519), why no minute was kept of the meeting between a Minister and the China General Nuclear Power Group.

Lord Callanan: The meeting was declared as per standard government processes and was attended by officials alongside the Minister. Relevant officials were also made aware of developments following the meeting.

Department of Health and Social Care

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the £3m additional NHS funding to support access to healthcare has been spent on psychological support for Afghan citizens who arrived under the resettlement scheme; and what steps they have taken to ensure that such support is(1) culturally sensitive, and (2) appropriate for people who may have suffered trauma.

Lord Kamall: The information is not held in the format requested. Local areas have provided trauma-informed psychological and emotional support responses for Afghan refugees. These are led by clinicians with expertise in working with refugee populations and local community groups and organisations to ensure it is culturally appropriate and accessible.NHS England and NHS Improvement are engaging with areas which have received Afghan refugees to share best practice with other areas of the country.

Health Services and Social Services

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they will provide to local authorities to support them with the (1) financing, and (2) provision, of (a) adult social care services, (b) public health services, including access to specialist trauma counselling, and (c) other general public services.

Lord Kamall: The Local Government Finance Settlement makes available an additional £3.7 billion to councils for 2022/23. This will enable councils to deliver key services, including adult social care and other general public services. The majority of this funding is un-ringfenced as local authorities are best placed to understand local priorities.Public health services commissioned by local authorities in England are funded through the ring-fenced Public Health Grant. The 2021 Spending Review confirmed that the Public Health Grant will increase in each of the next three years. In 2022/23, each local authority will receive a 2.81% increase, with total funding reaching £3.417 billion. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities offers advice and support to authorities on the services that best meet the needs of their local populations. In addition, the Department funds the Local Government Association to provide peer support to local authorities through a sector-led improvement programme.Access to specialist trauma counselling is available from the National Health Service from a range of providers according to clinical need.

Tuberculosis

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat of tuberculosis to human health (1) in England, and (2) globally.

Lord Kamall: The UK Health Security Agency reports tuberculosis (TB) cases on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis for people resident in England or are treated in England and are homeless or visiting from abroad. In England, the incidence of TB fell significantly since 2011. While cases increased in 2019, a further decrease in 2020 was impacted by the disruption to services and diagnoses caused by the pandemic. Currently, cases numbers are approximately 4,000 per year with the highest rates concentrated in large urban areas.In 2020, the World Health Organization noted an increase in deaths from TB globally between 2019 and 2020, an 18% decline in the reported number of people newly diagnosed in 2019 and a decline in treatment coverage to 59% in 2020. This disruption was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and a fall in global spending on TB.

Care Homes: Visits

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen the role of the Care Quality Commission in addressing (1) residential care home visits being blocked following a complaint being raised, and (2) evictions from residential care homes following a complaint being raised.

Lord Kamall: Blocking visits or evicting a patient following a complaint being raised would be a breach of existing regulations and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is clear that appropriate action will be taken if it finds a provider has failed in its responsibilities. Any such cases shared with the CQC will be investigated as part of its ongoing monitoring of providers. The CQC reinforces the principle that care homes must enable, rather than restrict, visiting and blanket bans on visiting are unacceptable. The CQC seeks assurances from care home providers on how visits are enabled and verifies this information during inspections.Although the CQC is not able to address individual complaints, it can direct people to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which can investigate such complaints in all adult care services.

Coronavirus: Prescription Drugs

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Kamall on 24 March (HL7023), why they are retaining stocks of COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

Lord Kamall: The Government has secured 4.98 million patient courses of oral antiviral treatments. As a result, there are supplies of oral antivirals molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir+ritonavir held in the United Kingdom with regular deliveries to ensure sufficient treatment for patients. These are available to eligible patients in the community at highest risk of developing severe disease through COVID Medicines Delivery Units in England and equivalent arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, nirmatrelvir + ritonavir is available to eligible patients who contract COVID-19 whilst in hospital.We continue to monitor clinical trial results to understand which patient cohorts may benefit from oral antivirals, including the PANORAMIC national study. The results will inform our understanding of the performance of oral antivirals where the majority of the population is vaccinated and future decisions on patient access in the UK.

Coronavirus: Medical Treatments

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many COVID-19 patients are currently in hospital; whether those patients are being given antiviral treatments to aid their recovery; and if so, what is the average length of time it takes patients receiving such treatments to be cured.

Lord Kamall: As of 28 March 2022, the number of patients currently in hospital with COVID-19 is 17,685. A range of treatments are available to these patients, including antivirals. Eligible patients admitted to hospital for reasons not related to COVID-19 and subsequently test positive are able to access nirmatrelvir + ritonavir (Paxlovid), an oral antiviral treatment or remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral. For patients whose immune system means they are at higher risk of COVID-19, the antiviral treatments molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir + ritonavir and remdesivir are available in the community to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death. Approximately 120,000 treatments have been provided in England, of which 53,000 were antivirals administered to hospitalised patients. The data requested on the average time for patients receiving antivirals to be cured is not held centrally.

Influenza: Vaccination

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government why those aged 50 to 64 will not be eligible for free flu vaccinations in the 2022/23 flu season.

Lord Kamall: Due to the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and the treatments now available to those individuals most at risk of infection, eligibility for other vaccination programmes, such as flu, will return to the pre-pandemic cohorts. We continue to keep the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice for the flu vaccination programme under review.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage breast screening units to work with their communities to (1) design, and (2) deliver, an equitable recovery of the programme.

Lord Kamall: Breast cancer screening providers are being encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks and National Health Service regional teams to promote the uptake of breast screening services and ensure local populations can access services. NHS England and NHS Improvement have allocated £22 million for replacement mobile breast screening units and £50 million to increase capacity and activity in England.

Department for Education

Curriculum

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that greater focus within the school curriculum is placed on the teaching of creative and practical subjects.

Baroness Barran: The government believes in a high-quality education for all pupils, and integral to this is cultural education, including music and the wider arts and creative subjects. Art and design, design and technology, and music are compulsory in all maintained schools from the age of 5 to the age of 14. Post-14, all pupils in maintained schools must be offered the opportunity to study at least one subject in the arts.All schools are required to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, promoting pupils' cultural development. The department’s knowledge-based curriculum allows pupils to develop disciplinary skills and creativity, which are best taught in the context of solid subject content.The department will continue to invest around £115 million per annum in cultural education over the next three years, through our music, arts and heritage programmes, including music education hubs, the Music and Dance Scheme and a set of cultural education programmes such as Saturday Art and Design Clubs, the National Youth Dance Company and the British Film Institute’s Film Academy programme, and others. We have also published the Model Music Curriculum which supports teachers in delivering high-quality music education.Our £15,000 financial incentive for design and technology initial teacher trainees will help attract the best and brightest to teach this important subject. The department has also committed to go further in the Levelling Up White Paper, through our planned £5 million investment to launch the school cooking revolution, which will include brand new curriculum content and bursaries for teacher training and leadership.With the real terms per pupil increases to core school funding, and the additional £1 billion new funding announced specifically for recovery, schools will continue to have the flexibility to deliver a broad and ambitious curriculum and enrichment activities, including in cultural education.

Teachers: Career Development

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce a school teacher development programme to enable all leaders and teachers to access continuing professional development.

Baroness Barran: Teaching quality is the most important in-school factor in improving pupil outcomes and is one of the department’s top priorities to raise the quality of teaching and school leadership.The department has created an entitlement to at least three years of structured training, support and professional development for all new teachers. This is to bring teaching into line with other prestigious professions such as law, accountancy and medicine. Underpinning this is the new initial teacher training (ITT) Core Content Framework and the early career framework (ECF). Together, these ensure that new teachers will benefit from at least three years of evidence-based training, across ITT and into their induction.Building on refreshed ITT content, from September 2021 early career teachers (ECTs) continue their journey by completing a two-year induction, based on the ECF. The ECF provides the solid foundations for a successful career in teaching. It outlines what all teachers should know and learn how to do during the first two years of their careers.The offer includes a dedicated mentor and support for these mentors, including funding for mentors to spend time with ECTs in the second year of induction. ECTs are also entitled to 5% off timetable in the second year of induction to undertake induction activities and access to freely available high quality development materials based on the ECF.In addition, the department has launched a refreshed suite of fully funded of national professional qualifications (NPQ) to support teachers across the profession, to help them become more effective teachers and leaders inside and outside the classroom.To best address the broad range of responsibilities of current and aspiring middle leaders we have three specialist NPQs: Leading Teacher Development, Leading Teaching and Leading Behaviour and Culture. Alongside these, we are introducing two additional NPQs which will be available from autumn 2022: Leading Literacy and Early Years Leadership.The three NPQs in Senior Leadership, Headship and Executive Leadership have also been updated in line with the latest evidence to give existing and aspiring leaders the tools and skills to transform their settings, offering the best possible outcomes for the staff and pupils in their diverse communities.Taken together, these measures create a golden thread running from initial teacher training through to school leadership, rooting teacher and leader development in the best available evidence. More information about these reforms are available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1059686/Delivering_world_class_teacher_development_policy_paper.pdf.

Students: Loans

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the impact of proposed changes to student loan repayments on sectors of the economy experiencing staffing shortages, such as (1) nursing, and (2) teaching.

Baroness Barran: It is important that we have a sustainable student finance system that is fair to graduates and taxpayers.For new students entering higher education from September 2023 onwards, the government is reducing the interest rates charged on student loans to RPI+0%. This means that no one who takes out a loan under these new terms will repay more than they originally borrowed when adjusted for inflation. These new loans will have a repayment threshold of £25,000 per year (increasing with inflation from April 2027) and a term of 40 years. For existing borrowers and students who start in the 2022/23 academic year, the government will be maintaining the repayment threshold at its current level of £27,295 per year up to and including the 2024/25 financial year, and increasing it annually in line with inflation thereafter.Borrowers on both the new and the existing loan terms will continue to benefit from the unique protections that student loans offer. Individuals earning under the relevant repayment threshold will not be required to make any repayments at all, and any outstanding loan debt will be written off at the end of the loan term at no personal detriment. No commercial loans protect borrowers in these ways.A full impact assessment of the department’s student finance reforms is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment. Department analysis found that the system will remain progressive overall.The government will continue to support recruitment into certain priority sectors through targeted incentives. In nursing, midwifery and allied health subjects, new and continuing students on pre-registration courses at English universities have, from September 2020, benefitted from at least £5,000 per academic year of additional maintenance grant funding which they will not need to pay back. There is also up to £3,000 of further funding available for students with child dependants or students studying specialist disciplines that struggle to recruit. These grants come as part of the government’s manifesto commitment to increase nurse numbers by 50,000 by 2025.In teaching, the government has put in place a range of measures, including bursaries worth up to £24,000 and scholarships worth up to £26,000, to encourage talented trainee teachers to key subjects such as chemistry, computing, mathematics and physics.

Schools: Standards

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what their definition is of a school that is 'stuck'; and how many of the 415 schools designated by Ofsted as stuck in 2019 remain in that category.

Baroness Barran: Ofsted’s report ‘Fight or flight? How ‘stuck’ schools are overcoming isolation’, published in January 2020, defined a stuck school as a school judged less than good in every inspection it had in a 13-year period up to 31 August 2019 which had at least 4 full inspections in the period.Ofsted has not carried out any further analysis on this cadre of schools since that time. At the end of the 2020/21 academic year, however, Ofsted identified 390 stuck schools based on a comparable definition.

Universities: Remote Education

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the savings to universities of delivering courses online and re-using digital teaching materials; andwhat plans they have, if any, to require universities to pass these savings on to students.

Baroness Barran: The former Secretary of State for Education commissioned Sir Michael Barber, in his former capacity as chair of the Office for Students (OfS), to lead a review following the rapid shift toward digital teaching and learning in higher education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.The conclusion of the review set out a series of recommendations for higher education providers outlining what a successful approach to building digital skills looks like, with practical suggestions for action. Sir Michael Barber’s report can be read here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/gravity-assist-propelling-higher-education-towards-a-brighter-future/.Crucially, Sir Michael Barber’s review of digital teaching and learning found that universities had invested significantly in developing their digital teaching and learning offer, and did not find evidence that online tuition is less expensive to deliver than face-to-face provision.The government has removed all restrictions on in-person teaching, meaning providers are able to offer the full face-to-face teaching experience that they were offering before the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual learning is a fantastic innovation that can be used to complement and enhance a student’s learning experience, not detract from it, but it should not be used as a cost-cutting exercise.The OfS has recently launched a review of blended learning. The review will examine blended methods of course delivery and consider which approaches represent high-quality teaching and learning, as well as which approaches fall short of the OfS' regulatory requirements.

Ministry of Justice

Marriage: Humanism

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend legal recognition to humanist weddings; and why they did not do so at the same time as extending legal recognition to outdoor weddings.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: In 2014, the Government published a consultation paper and response assessing the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages. This concluded that the matter was complex, and that by allowing Humanists to solemnise marriages in unrestricted locations, the Government would create a provision for Humanists that would not be available to all groups. To ensure we are considering the implications of changing the law on marriage for all groups, we invited the Law Commission to undertake a review which is currently underway and is expected to report in July of this year. By looking at the law comprehensively, the Law Commission will seek to put forward proposals that would ensure that, insofar as possible, groups and couples are all subject to the same rules and the same level of regulation. That reform is not possible by only authorising Humanist weddings, even on a temporary basis pending the Law Commission report. The Government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations when the final report is published in July, and it is right for us to wait for the outcome of the report before amending marriage law any further.

Marriage: Humanism

Lord Desai: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possibility of extending legal recognition to humanist marriages in premises approved for civil marriages and civil partnerships in advance of the outcome of the Law Commission review of marriage law; and, if any such assessment concluded that such an extension was not possible, why not.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: In 2014, the Government published a consultation paper and response assessing the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages. This concluded that the matter was complex, and that by allowing Humanists to solemnise marriages in unrestricted locations, the Government would create a provision for Humanists that would not be available to all groups. To ensure we are considering the implications of changing the law on marriage for all groups, we invited the Law Commission to undertake a review which is currently underway and is expected to report in July of this year. By looking at the law comprehensively, the Law Commission will seek to put forward proposals that would ensure that, insofar as possible, groups and couples are all subject to the same rules and the same level of regulation. That reform is not possible by only authorising Humanist weddings, even on a temporary basis pending the Law Commission report. The Government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations when the final report is published in July, and it is right for us to wait for the outcome of the report before amending marriage law any further.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Tigray: Armed Conflict

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 21 March (HL6783), whatassessment they have made of the denial of transit facilities to the United Nations through Ethiopia; and whether they consider thisto be ablockade.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Less than 10% of required aid has reached Tigray since July 2021. The UN has described Tigray as being subject to a 'de facto blockade' and we share this assessment. We welcome the humanitarian ceasefire announced by both sides on 24 March and are working with a range of stakeholders how to operationalise this to enable swift delivery of aid.

Benedict Rogers

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Hong Kong following reports of threats and intimidation ofBenedict Rogers, a UK citizen and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As stated by the Foreign Secretary on 14 March, the unjustifiable action taken against the UK-based NGO Hong Kong Watch is clearly an attempt to silence those who stand up for human rights in Hong Kong. In parallel, our officials have raised our concerns in the strongest terms about this issue directly with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities in London, Hong Kong and Beijing. We also continue to make clear our wider concerns about the National Security Law and the targeting of pro-democracy activists and groups.The Chinese Government and Hong Kong authorities must respect the universal right to freedom of speech, and uphold that right in Hong Kong in accordance with international commitments, including the Joint Declaration. Attempting to silence voices globally that speak up for freedom and democracy is unacceptable and will never succeed.

Belarus: Sanctions

Lord Tyrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatconsideration they have given to imposing sanctions on Belarus.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Under our Belarus sanctions regime, which was in place prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have imposed sanctions on President Lukashenko and 117 other individuals and entities as well as trade, financial and aviation sanctions. In addition, on 1 March, the UK announced a first tranche of sanctions against Belarusian individuals and organisations in response to the role the country is playing in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including facilitating the invasion from within its borders. The Foreign Secretary has committed to going further and our intention is to extend recent Russia sanctions to Belarus in due course.

Belarus: Sanctions

Lord Tyrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of any sanctions imposed on Belarus by other countries.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK continues to work in lockstep with international partners to coordinate sanctions as necessary, including on Belarus. As with all announcements on sanctions, the ultimate objective is to ensure that Putin fails in Ukraine. The whole of the UK Government, along with our international allies, is working to ensure that happens. The Lukashenko regime is being made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin.

India: Overseas Aid

Lord Tyrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatconsideration they have given to the (1) curtailment, and (2) suspension, of overseas aid to India, in light of reports that India has facilitated circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has not provided any financial aid to the Government of India since 2015. Our work in India makes investments and deploys world-leading expertise in areas of mutual interest like tackling climate change. To date, approximately £80 million of our ODA investment has been returned to HMG.

Kyaw Zwar Minn

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what conversations they have held with the government of Myanmar in relation to the continuing presence of the former Ambassador of Myanmar,Kyaw Zwar Minn, in his official London residence; what correspondence they have had with Kyaw Zwar Minn on this matter; and what plans they have to publish any such correspondence.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government has unequivocally condemned the coup in Myanmar.The UK Government have a longstanding policy and practice of according recognition to states, not governments.We have stated clearly and publicly that we believe that former Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn took a brave stand in speaking out against the coup. The FCDO is in regular contact with him. We have provided him with significant support to help him and his family start a new life in the UK.

Ukraine: Refugees

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to offer transport to the UK for Ukrainians seeking refuge in this country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is working closely with partners across Government, including the Department for Transport, to support people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and to find safe travel routes into the UK.

International Criminal Court: Vladimir Putin

Lord Selkirk of Douglas: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 March (HL6553), whether the referral to the International Criminal Court (1) names President Putin, and (2) includes orders given by President Putin.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK led efforts to refer the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has now secured the support of 40 other States Parties. The referral was made in accordance with the requirements of article 14 of the Rome Statute. We want to hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities that have been and are being committed in Ukraine, including both military commanders and individuals in the Putin regime. It is for the ICC Prosecutor to independently determine who should be prosecuted for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including those that ordered them, in accordance with his mandate under the Rome Statute.

Gazprombank: Sanctions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to impose sanctions on Gazprombank.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are focusing our efforts on those measures which will have the biggest impact. The UK Government has blocked all Russian companies from raising capital on UK markets, including Gazprombank and other significant Russian entities.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning recent reports of Israeli soldiers invading Palestinian homes in Tiwani village, near Hebron.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised UK concerns about clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces with the Israeli authorities on 24 March. We recognise Israel's legitimate need to deploy security measures. We encourage them to deploy these in a way that minimises tension, uses appropriate force, and avoids causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians.

Nigeria: Christianity

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria regarding Christian persecution in that country.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government is concerned by insecurity across Nigeria; this violence is having a devastating impact on affected communities of all faiths and ethnicities. We assess that the principal causes of violence are complex and multifaceted and are often linked to criminality and competition over resources. We continue to urge and support the Nigerian Government to take action to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence and ensure the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all.The Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean regularly raises insecurity in Nigeria with the Nigerian Government, including during her visit to Nigeria in February, where she discussed this issue with Foreign Minister Onyeama. During her visit, the Minister held detailed discussions with regional governors, community leaders and religious leaders about the causes of violence. Additionally, on 1 February, the Minister also discussed insecurity with Nigerian National Security Adviser Monguno during the inaugural dialogue of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership.We will continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all.

Sudan: Police

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the government of the United States to add the Sudan Central Reserves Police to its list of sanctioned entities; what plans they have, if any, to make a similar decision; and if they have no such plans, why not.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We remain concerned at the political crisis and continued violent repression of protesters in Sudan. The US is right to condemn Sudan's Central Reserve Police for their use of excessive use of force against protestors. We will continue to consider all options to maintain pressure on the Sudanese security forces, including the possibility of sanctions. We would not normally speculate about future sanctions targets as to do so could reduce their impact.We continue to press the Sudanese military to allow peaceful protests, protect human rights and deliver accountability for past violations; a message delivered directly by senior FCDO officials to Sudan's military leadership on 3 March in Khartoum.

Ministry of Defence

Ukraine: Armed Conflict

Lord Selkirk of Douglas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of President Putin's role in Russian military decisions to attack (1) civilian targets, and (2) nuclear facilities, in Ukraine.

Baroness Goldie: As the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Putin provides direction and leadership of the Russian Armed Forces and is accountable for their actions. The targeting of civilians and any civilian objects is not only abhorrent, but also a blatant violation of international law, and should not continue under any circumstances. These allegations only strengthen the need for an International Criminal Court investigation into Russian war crimes and for the world to stand together in defence of International Humanitarian Law.

Ukraine: Refugees

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to utilise(1) current, and (2) former, Ministry of Defence Service Family Accommodation units to house (a) individuals, and (b) families, fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Baroness Goldie: Under the UK Government's 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, as of 20 March 2022, over 150,000 expressions of interest have been received from individuals and organisations. The Ministry of Defence is assessing how the Department can contribute to the scheme, noting the unique nature of Service accommodation, which includes potential security implications where accommodation is 'behind the wire'.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to speed up (1) delivery of F35B fighters, and (2) the formation of the second squadron.

Baroness Goldie: Due to other operational commitments and engineering training pipelines there are no plans to accelerate our personnel Force Growth plan at present. We are constrained by our internationally agreed manufacture and delivery profile; there are capacity limitations in the overall F-35 development programme with many global customers.

Fleet Solid Support Ships

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the first Fleet Solid Support ship to operate with the carrier battlegroup.

Baroness Goldie: The date for Fleet Solid Support Initial Operating Capability and individual ship in service dates will not be determined until the Full Business Case is submitted and will be reliant on the delivery schedule agreed when the manufacture contract is awarded. The contract requirement is for three ships to be delivered by 2032; the competition rewards bids that deliver to the earliest schedule, balanced against value for money.

Department for Work and Pensions

Off-payroll Working: National Insurance Contributions

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the rise in National Insurance contributions from April, what financial support they will provide to support employees of umbrella companies.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Government has consistently said that the best way to support people’s living standards is through good work, better skills, and higher wages. To that end the Government has taken decisive action to make work pay by cutting the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, meaning that claimants will be able to keep more of their earnings. At the same time, we have also increased the Work Allowance by £500 a year, this is the amount that households with children or a household member with limited capability for work can earn before their Universal Credit award starts to be tapered, meaning many claimants will be able to earn over £550 each month before their Universal Credit begins to be reduced.The taper is applied to earnings net of tax, national insurance contributions, including the proposed increase from April, and 100 per cent occupational/personal pension contributions.Reducing the taper rate from 63% to 55% means that the marginal effective tax rate for someone paying basic rate tax and national insurance will fall from around 75% before these changes to under 70% in 22-23 (this is after accounting for the introduction of the Health and Social Care Levy).In the Spring Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the earnings threshold where people start paying National Insurance would increase to £12,570 from 6 July, which is worth over £330 a year for employees.

Home Office

Refugees: Ukraine

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Ukrainian refugees (1) have applied for visas, (2) have been granted visas; and (3) have entered each of the four nations of the UK, under (a) the family visa scheme, and (b) the sponsorship scheme, each day since each of those schemes was launched.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Home Office Migration Statistics do not capture the number of applications for Ukrainian refugees either granted, refused, or how many have entered the four nations of the UK. To capture these numbers and divide them into each day since the scheme was launched would require a manual trawl of data and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.Information on the number of applications currently being processed under the newly launched Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) can be found in our published data on the GOV.UK webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-family-scheme-application-data

Immigration: Ukraine

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow Ukrainians living in the UK, regardless of their immigration status, the right to bring dependants or spouses into the UK.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: As set out in the Home Secretary’s statement to the House on 1 March, a fee free, bespoke Ukraine Family Scheme has been introduced.The route allows both the immediate family members (spouse, civil partner, durable partner, minor children) and extended family members (parent, grandparent, adult children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws and their immediate family) to join their relatives in the UK. The UK-based sponsoring relative must be a British citizen, a person who is present and settled in the UK (including those with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), a person in the UK with refugee leave or with humanitarian protection or an EEA or Swiss national in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU (pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme). This route was launched on 4 March.Ukrainian nationals in the UK with temporary permission stay are not permitted to sponsor a relative under the Ukraine Family Scheme. However, on 18 March the Government launched the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, which enables individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to volunteer accommodation and provide a route to safety for Ukrainians, and their immediate family members, forced to escape their homeland. Ukrainian nationals’ resident in the UK with at least six months’ leave can qualify to sponsor under this scheme if they are able to offer suitable accommodation and pass security checks. Further information about the Homes for Ukraine Scheme has been published here:https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/Ukrainian nationals in the UK who do not hold a valid immigration status will continue to be prohibited from sponsoring a spouse or dependant to enter the UK.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the amount payable to sponsors of Ukrainian refugees above £350 per calendar month, especially in the case of larger families or those with special needs.

Lord Harrington of Watford: The £350 monthly sum is intended as a 'Thank you' payment to those who respond to the scheme. Any extra support required for families with special needs will be met through provision to Local Authorities, rather than the Sponsor

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers fromLord Greenhalgh on 23 February (HL6158 and HL 6159), what assessment they have made of the risk of damage to the Victoria Tower from (1) the excavations, and (2) the vibrations from heavy piling work, required for the development of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre at Victoria Tower Gardens.

Lord Greenhalgh: Excavations and piling work for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will be carefully managed and monitored to ensure minimal impact on the surroundings. There is no expectation that these works will impact on Victoria Tower.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: Australia

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether NorthernIreland is treated in the same way as the rest of the UK under the terms of the UK–Australia free trade agreement as a result of the effects of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and if not, what the difference will be.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: We have provided for the application of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to all four parts of the UK, which includes Northern Ireland. The FTA also takes into account the effects of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland by allowing the UK to take measures under the Protocol designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and to protect the peace process. Exporters in Northern Ireland will benefit from this FTA in the same way as exporters in England, Scotland and Wales.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football: Sportsgrounds

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further tothe ongoing safe standing trial in English football, what consideration they have given to alternative crowd safety systems such as those that involve pressure monitoring.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) advises HM Government on safety at sports grounds. The SGSA monitors developments in both technology and practice and keeps all of its guidance, including the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide), under review.

Football: Ownership

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they have for foreign bodies (1) owning, and (2) investing in, football teams in England; and what measures they have in place to safeguard the interests of fans.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The ownership of football clubs is, and has historically been, a matter for the football authorities, not for HM Government.The tests for ownership of clubs were raised in the report of the Fan-Led Review which recommended stronger tests independently administered by a new independent regulator.HM Government is considering the recommendations of the Review, including those made on enhancing the existing owners’ and directors’ tests, and working swiftly to determine the most effective way to deliver an independent regulator.We will issue a formal response to the Fan-Led Review in the coming weeks.

National Lottery

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the next operator of the National Lottery will be permitted to offer online instant win games.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Fourth National Lottery Licence is due to come into operation in February 2024. Online Instant Win Games will remain permitted under the Fourth Licence subject to the Gambling Commission receiving and approving one or more applications for Section 6 Game Licences pertaining to Online Instant Win Games.Under the National Lottery Etc. Act 1993, the Commission may only grant such approval where this is consistent with its statutory duties, including with respect to participant protection and due propriety. Section 6 Game Licences will also only be granted to games that comply with the legal and regulatory framework, including National Lottery directions and regulations.Where the Licensee fails to meet its obligations related to a game licensed under a Section 6 Licence, the Commission may suspend the game licence.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service: Construction

Lord Vinson: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment he has made of the risk of damage to the Victoria Tower from (1) the excavations, and (2) the vibrations from heavy piling work, required for the development of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre at Victoria Tower Gardens.

Lord Touhig: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.The full assessment of risks to the Parliamentary Estate, including the Victoria Tower, from the construction of the Holocaust Memorial can only be made once detailed design proposals are available to review.Different construction and excavation plans will have different impacts and risks. We plan to install vibration monitors when and where appropriate.It is expected that the Holocaust Memorial project team will engage with the House as a key stakeholder throughout the detailed design stage.